Apple iOS 27 upgrades parental controls with Ask to Browse, revamped Screen Time and more

Apple is set to unveil significant enhancements to its parental control features with the upcoming release of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate. These updates aim to provide parents with greater oversight of their children’s online activities while streamlining device management. Among the new features expected to arrive later this year are website approval requests, flexible screen-time extensions, enhanced app access controls, and an upgraded Screen Time interface. These changes are part of Apple’s ongoing commitment to foster safer digital environments for kids and teenagers amid rising concerns about screen addiction, exposure to inappropriate content, and online safety. One of the most notable new tools is “Ask to Browse,” which allows parents to approve every new website their child attempts to visit using Safari. This function, akin to the existing “Ask to Buy” feature for App Store purchases, gives parents direct authority over their child's web access, enabling a more hands-on approach to monitoring online behavior. Additionally, the revamped Screen Time interface will feature a cleaner design that includes a new Time Allowances option. This will enable parents to easily grant their children extra app usage time without having to permanently alter their screen-time limits. Instead, parents can approve temporary extensions for academic work, communication, or leisure activities. The setup process for child accounts is also being simplified. During the initial device configuration, parents can select from various levels of app access, ranging from essential applications to a curated list of age-appropriate apps. As children mature, parents can gradually introduce new apps while still maintaining control over downloads through parental approval requests. Beyond the iOS 27 update, Apple has been proactively enhancing child safety features across its platform. Recent improvements include more stringent communication controls, enabling parents to vet new contacts their children wish to connect with, alongside clearer app age-rating systems that provide better insight into user-generated content and advertising. Apple is also encouraging developers to integrate its new age-related tools, which utilize APIs designed to create age-appropriate experiences without revealing a child’s exact birth date. According to the company, these initiatives are crafted to strike a balance between ensuring child safety and preserving user privacy.